Pot Shots Notes from Hempfest

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.counterpunch.org/gardner08252007.html

By FRED GARDNER

In what European country do people smoke more marijuana, per capita, than in the U.S.? No, it's not Holland, it's the Czech Republic. Travel writer Rick Steves threw that surprising fact into his talk Sunday at the Seattle Hempfest. He had just come back from two months in Europe where, he said, "a joint causes as much excitement as a can of beer. It's just not a big deal." Steves lives in nearby Edmond, WA, from whence he runs his flourishing guidebook business.

Is there any public figure in America who risks more, careerwise, by openly challenging the marijuana prohibition? "I've got to be careful not to overplay my hand," he said, "but everybody in public television knows what I'm doing and they're with me." Rick Steves for Secretary of State!

The Hempfest -the world's biggest pro-cannabis rally by far- developed out of a Seattle vigil opposing the Gulf War in 1991. Opposition to the current catastrophe in Iraq was expressed at this year's event by the very visible Ron-Paul-for-President crew. There was also a booth at which Fred Miller of Peace Action of Washington disseminated info about U.S. military spending. Miller's routine is called "Incredible Feats of Stupidity" and highlights Pentagon programs such as the one that provided landlocked Zimbabwe with anti-submarine rockets. Miller's partner, Gabrielle Lavalle, wore a little crown on her blonde bouffant wig and a powder-blue dress with a sash across her chest that said "I Miss America." She'll be taking part in an "I Miss America" pageant Monday afternoon (August 27) when George Bush comes to Bellevue to fundraise for pro-war Congressman Dave Reichert. Beauties interested in joining can call 206-789-6863.

The 16th annual Hempfest was held August 18-19 in Myrtle Edwards Park, a mile-long strip of greenery along Elliott Bay. Vendors' booths -this year there were almost 300- line a couple of winding asphalt pathways. Tents and stages are set up where the lawn widens. Speakers are interspersed with bands. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer (which had a booth offering subscriptions at a deep discount along with a free toolbelt) estimated the two-day crowd at 150,000. It rained fairly hard for about 15 minutes on Saturday and nobody paid it any mind. That's Seattle for you. Sunday there was a soft drizzle for most of the morning, then the sun came out.

[OneBlueSky]

1. back in the late 60s/early 70s, authorities generally let pot use pass . . .

as no big deal, particularly at concerts -- at least in New York . . . from Madison Square Garden (Stones) to the Paramount Theater in Rye (Byrds) to the Geneva Theater in Geneva (Springsteen, twice), you could be pretty sure that just sitting in the audience would give you a contact high . . . the clouds of pot smoke were amazing, and not once did the authorities try to find the "offenders" and haul them away . . . it was just an accepted part of the concert experience . . .

wonder what changed? . . .